Fly with wasps to reach GHS
August 26th 2008

The Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals Regulation (REACH) is in now force. It requires all manufacturers and suppliers who deal with chemicals to share all important safety information with their customers and chemical users right down the supply chain to the end user.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) effectively communicate chemical hazards to most chemical industry professionals. However, ESL says the SDS is inappropriate for most other workers who use, ship or handle chemicals. It believes SDS cannot easily be understood.

The WASP sheet is a cost-effective communications tool for REACH and will be for GHS, as it bridges the gap between the scientifically expressed SDS and most of the workforce. The WASPS package also contains a full implementation of the COSHH Essentials risk assessment method introduced by the HSE. WASP sheets can be produced in less than 5 minutes and in a variety of languages. ESL says Kodak Research UK, Kellogg’s and Rentokil have made the change to WASPS.

GHS is expected to come into force, in the European Union, during 2008. Ultimately, GHS will completely replace the CHIP regulations with a new way to classify hazardous chemicals. Current WASPS users are effectively communicating hazards to their workforce and willbe prepared to navigate towards REACH and GHS compliance.

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